KARACHI, Oct 29: A resolution, unanimously adopted at a meeting of NGOs on Tuesday, demanded that a high-level judicial inquiry be instituted into the Rimpa Plaza incident and compensation be paid to the heirs of the victims.

The condolence meeting, organized by the Joint Action Committee for Peace for the victims of the terrorist attack on the Idara Amn-o-Insaf that left seven people of the NGO dead, also demanded that the murderers be brought to book and awarded exemplary punishment.

The meeting further demanded that fool-proof security arrangements be provided to the two survivors of the attack so that the real culprits could be apprehended. It said that the premises should be returned to the NGO, so that the social welfare work that the organization was carrying on could be resumed.

It said that the Idara was working for raising awareness among and highlighting the issues being faced by the marginalized sections of the society. It was noticed with regret that a campaign had been launched and false claims were being made against the Idara by some vested interests to mislead the investigators and protect the real culprits.

I. A. Rehman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan criticized the government for not being able to arrest the culprits and said that if the authorities did not arrest the culprits, then they would to be held responsible. He said that such cowardly acts could not frighten members of the human rights organizations and those who had sacrificed their lives would be an inspiration to human right activists.

Father Peter said that the terrorists, through the dastardly act, wanted to convey a message to other human rights organizations that if they did not stop their work, they could also be targeted as well.

He said that Robin Sharif, who was shot in the head but had survived the deadly attack, was recovering fast and was now able to speak.

He said that Mr Sharif could assist the police in their investigation that might lead to the arrest of the culprits.

Father Peter said that the workers of the Idara, despite the terrorist attack and the irreparable loss, were committed to the struggle for the downtrodden.

Taj Haider of the Pakistan People’s Party criticized the government for using the intelligence agencies for political purposes. He said that had they been allowed to do their actual work of providing security and gathering intelligence, such a gory incident could not have occurred. He demanded that the intelligence agencies be allowed to perform their premier duties so that the society would be a safer place to live in.

Prof Ghafoor Ahmad of the Jamat-i- Islami, praising Christian organizations providing services in the fields of health and education to everybody regardless of religion, said it was not only the duty of the state but also of the society to provide safety and security to minorities and their orgnaizations. He demanded that investigation be carried out transparently and the real culprits be arrested.

Kunwar Khalid Yunus of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that his party would propose an amendment in the parliament to get the word “minorities” out of the constitution, as everybody was an equal citizen of the country.

Anis Haroon said that the Idara had been struggling for the rights of women, minorities, those living in kutcha abadis, labourers, farmers and other oppressed classes. She said that the death of Omar Asghar Khan, who worked for community development, remained shrouded in mystery, and a worker of an other organization, Irteqa, had also been killed.

Rukhsana Aslam Martin, widow of one of the victims, also spoke briefly. In a choking voice, she said that the struggle for the rights of the oppressed could not be broken by such acts. The family members of all the victims were also present. Arif Hassan, Zafar Iqbal, Akhtar Hussain, Noor Naz Agha, Nuzhat Kidwai, Ayesha Mir, Khalid Ahmad, Mr Ejaz and others also spoke on the occasion

The JAC comprises Amnesty International, Aurat Foundation, the HRCP, Idara Amn-o-Insaf, the Christ Church Mission, the Labour Party Pakistan, Piler, Takhleeq Foundation, Shirkat Gah, WAF, the Forum for Peace and Development, Raasti, Caritas, the Orangi Pilot Project and the Urban Resource Centre.